Wondering how to say buy in Chinese? The word is 买 (mǎi), a single-character verb you’ll use almost every day in China. Whether you’re at a market, a restaurant, or shopping online, knowing this word is essential.
In this guide, you’ll learn the pronunciation, basic usage, related vocabulary, and real-world sentences. I’ll also share what twelve years of shopping in China has taught me about bargaining, mobile payments, and local customs.
Table of Contents
Pronunciation and Characters
The Chinese word for “buy” is 买 (mǎi). It is a single-character verb that every Chinese learner needs to master early.
| Character | Pinyin | Tone | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 买 | mǎi | 3rd tone (falling-rising) | to buy / to purchase |
The third tone starts mid-low, dips down, then rises back up. Think of it like a valley shape. Practice saying “mǎi” slowly: start at a medium pitch, drop lower, then rise slightly at the end. Getting the tone right matters because 卖 (mài) with a fourth tone means “to sell”, the exact opposite!
For tone practice, I recommend Purple Culture’s character tool which shows the stroke order and provides audio.
Basic Meaning of 买 (mǎi)
At its core, 买 (mǎi) means “to buy” or “to purchase.” It is one of the most frequently used verbs in daily Chinese conversation. Whether you are at a market, a restaurant, or shopping online, you will use this word constantly.
Here are the essential ways to use 买:
- 买东西 (mǎi dōng xi), buy things / go shopping
- 买衣服 (mǎi yī fu), buy clothes
- 买菜 (mǎi cài), buy vegetables / grocery shopping
- 买书 (mǎi shū), buy books
The structure is simple: 买 + [object]. Just place whatever you want to buy directly after 买.
Related Vocabulary
Knowing 买 is just the start. Here are related words and phrases that will make your shopping conversations smoother:
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 卖 | mài | to sell |
| 买东西 | mǎi dōng xi | to go shopping |
| 买单 | mǎi dān | to pay the bill |
| 买不起 | mǎi bu qǐ | can’t afford (too expensive) |
| 买到 | mǎi dào | managed to buy |
| 买错 | mǎi cuò | bought the wrong thing |
| 买完了 | mǎi wán le | sold out (literally: finished buying) |
| 想买 | xiǎng mǎi | want to buy |
| 多少钱 | duō shǎo qián | how much money |
| 太贵了 | tài guì le | too expensive |
| 便宜一点 | pián yi yì diǎn | a little cheaper |
For more on asking about prices, check our guide on how to say how much in Chinese. If something is too expensive, you might want to read how to say expensive in Chinese or how to say cheap in Chinese to build your bargaining vocabulary.
Advanced ways for how to say buy in Chinese sentences
Once you have the basics down, here are more natural ways to use 买 in real conversations:
Shopping Contexts
- 我去买咖啡。 (wǒ qù mǎi kā fēi), I am going to buy coffee.
- 我想买这个。 (wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhè ge), I want to buy this one.
- 我买两个。 (wǒ mǎi liǎng ge), I’ll buy two.
- 可以刷卡吗？ (kě yǐ shuā kǎ ma?), Can I pay by card?
- 这个适合我吗？ (zhè ge shì hé wǒ ma?), Does this suit me?, essential when buying clothes; see our guide on how to say suitable in Chinese.
Negative Forms
- 我不买了。 (wǒ bù mǎi le), I am not buying (it) anymore. / Forget it.
- 买不起。 (mǎi bu qǐ), Can’t afford it.
- 没买到。 (méi mǎi dào), Didn’t manage to buy it.
Directional Complements
- 买回来 (mǎi huí lai), buy and bring back
- 买回去 (mǎi huí qù), buy and take away
- 买上来 (mǎi shàng lai), buy and bring up
These directional complements show movement. 买回来 implies you went somewhere, bought something, and brought it back. FluentU has excellent video examples of these patterns in real shopping scenarios.
Resultative Complements
- 买到 (mǎi dào), succeed in buying
- 买完 (mǎi wán), finish buying
- 买错 (mǎi cuò), buy incorrectly / buy the wrong thing
- 买好 (mǎi hǎo), buy properly / finish buying
Resultative complements show the result of the action. 买到 is especially useful, it means you successfully found and purchased what you wanted.
Cultural Notes: Shopping and Bargaining in China
After twelve years in Tianjin, I have learned that 买 (mǎi) is rarely as simple as pointing and paying. Shopping culture in China comes with its own unwritten rules.
Bargaining Is Expected (in Some Places)
At open-air markets, street stalls, and many local shops, prices are flexible. The listed price is often a starting point. A common strategy:
- Ask the price: 这个多少钱？(zhè ge duō shǎo qián?)
- Offer roughly 50-70% of the asking price: 五十块可以吗？(wǔ shí kuài kě yǐ ma?)
- The seller will counter. Go back and forth a few times.
- Walk away if the price is too high, often the seller will call you back with a better offer.
One more tip: however hard you bargain, keep it friendly. Staying polite (礼貌) gets you much further than aggressive haggling, smiling is part of the game.
Fixed-price stores (supermarkets, chain stores, restaurants) do not bargain. Look for price tags, if they exist, the price is usually firm.
Payment Methods
Mobile payment dominates in China. WeChat Pay and Alipay are used everywhere, from street vendors to high-end malls. Cash is increasingly rare, and foreign credit cards are accepted mainly at international hotels and large department stores. The good news: both Alipay and WeChat Pay now let you link a foreign Visa or Mastercard directly in the app. If you are visiting, setting up a mobile payment app before arrival is highly recommended. SupChina has detailed guides on navigating China’s cashless economy as a foreigner.
Online Shopping
Taobao, JD.com, and Pinduoduo are the giants of Chinese e-commerce. Even locals buy almost everything online. The phrase 网购 (wǎng gòu) means “online shopping,” and 下单 (xià dān) means “to place an order.” Delivery is typically next-day or same-day in major cities.
Gift Buying
When buying gifts, avoid clocks (送钟 sòng zhōng sounds like “attending a funeral”) and shoes (鞋 xié sounds like “evil”). Fruit, tea, and local specialties are safe choices. For more on gift-giving customs, see our post on how to say gift in Chinese.
Key Takeaways
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Core Word | 买 (mǎi), third tone, means “to buy” |
| Opposite | 卖 (mài), fourth tone, means “to sell” |
| Basic Structure | 买 + [object], 买衣服, 买菜, 买书 |
| Key Phrase | 买东西 (mǎi dōng xi), go shopping |
| Bargaining | Expected at markets, not at fixed-price stores |
| Payment | Mobile payment (WeChat/Alipay) dominates |
| Negative Forms | 买不起 (can’t afford), 没买到 (didn’t get it) |
Mastering 买 (mǎi) opens the door to everyday interactions in China. Whether you are buying street food, negotiating at a market, or ordering online, this single character will serve you constantly.
For more practical Chinese vocabulary, explore our guides on how to say bill in Chinese, how to say money in Chinese, and how to say discount in Chinese.
Sources: FluentU for contextual learning, Purple Culture for character reference, China Briefing for business context, and SupChina for modern consumer culture insights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between 买 (mǎi) and 卖 (mài)?
Only the tone. 买 (mǎi) with the third tone means “to buy,” while 卖 (mài) with the fourth tone means “to sell.” Mixing them up reverses your meaning completely, so practice the two tones together until they feel distinct.
How do I say “I want to buy this” in Chinese?
Say 我想买这个。(wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhè ge.) Point at the item while saying it. To order a specific quantity, add a number: 我买两个。(wǒ mǎi liǎng ge.), “I’ll take two.”
Can you bargain everywhere in China?
No. Bargaining works at open-air markets, street stalls, and small independent shops, but supermarkets, chain stores, and restaurants have fixed prices. If there is a printed price tag, the price is usually firm.
What does 买单 (mǎi dān) mean?
买单 (mǎi dān) literally means “buy the bill”, it is how you ask for the check in a restaurant. Just say 买单！(mǎi dān!) or, more politely, 麻烦买单。(má fan mǎi dān.)
